title: Osteoclast differentiation inhibitors: a patent review (2008 - 2012).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mononuclear macrophage/monocyte-lineage hematopoietic precursors differentiate into multinucleated osteoclasts. Abnormally increased numbers and/or overactivation of osteoclasts can lead to bone loss. Therefore, pharmaceutical inhibition of osteoclast differentiation is one therapeutic strategy for mitigating the occurrence of bone loss-associated disorders and related fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review surveys the patents and patent applications from 2008 to 2012 that are related to inventions of therapeutics and/or methods for inhibiting osteoclast differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over the past 20 years, the identification and validation of signaling molecules involved in osteoclast differentiation has led to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism, and to the development of new therapeutic agents for treating bone loss-associated disorders. Since 2008, 34 WO patents or patent applications have been filed that relate to inventions of therapeutics and/or methods for chemical-based, natural product-based, or biological-based inhibitors of osteoclast differentiation. Here, analysis of these patents and patent applications is presented, and summarize the disclosed osteoclast differentiation-inhibiting target molecules. This report can support further advances in the development of anti-osteoclastogenic therapeutics for bone loss-associated disorders, including osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Paget's disease, periodontal disease, osteosarcoma, and cancer bone metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Pharmacology Research Center, Division of Drug Discovery Research, Laboratory of Translational Therapeutics , P.O.Box 107, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-600 , Republic of Korea +82 42 860 7687 ; hwan@krict.re.kr.
authors.forename: Seong Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D015195:Drug Design; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010330:Patents as Topic